Images from here.
Inside Ladurée’s whimsical Tokyo tea salon
It’s one of those spaces that must be seen to be believed. Ladurée’s new salon de thé in Tokyo is a whimsical display of colour, candy and cutesy.
With stores in Geneva and Los Angeles, the macaron and pastry specialist India Madhavi poured her creative vision into this new dessert cafe.
The interior details see grey and white chequered marble flooring, bespoke scalloped velvet furniture, blown glass lamps, and generous serves of lime-green and candy pink throughout.
One things’s for sure: if we had all the money (and time) in the world, we’d fly mum here for Mother’s Day high tea. But for now, we can dream on by exploring the images of this quaint Parisian cafe in thriving Tokyo…
Images from here.
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Inside the vibrant new Hoxton Hotel, Paris
The Hoxton hotel brand is designed for the style savvy. With offerings in Shoreditch, Holborn and Amsterdam, the doors have now opened to Hoxton’s Paris incarnation.
It’s the largest of all the Hoxton hotels yet, and comes complete with a brasserie, a cocktail bar and 172 guest-rooms. History and modern living come together in this 18th century building. In fact, the facade is so exemplary of rococo architecture that the French state have declared it a ‘monument historique’.
Inside, two 300-year-old staircases sweep your eye updates towards exposed timber beams and intricate cornices. There’s a strong sense of indoor-outdoor flow, with an internal courtyard’s cobbled ground juxtaposed with plush velvet lounges in punchy colours.
Graphical artwork and bedspreads, the tangerine tones repeated throughout and the leather bedheads lend a modern feel to the hotel, while the parquetry floors and wall panelling remind us of the building’s past. Take a look…
Inside the colourful Room Mate Emir, Turkey
Room Mate Hotels’ latest property is certainly intriguing. The entrance of Room Mate Emir, in Istanbul, is bathed in a candy neon glow, which evaporates as one moves through to the softer-toned in-house restaurant and soothing suites. This contrast between daringly new and old is played on throughout the 27-room boutique hotel.
The period facade of the building has been retained, while the interiors – designed by Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa Violá – see a mix of avant-garde and classical influences.
Parquet floors contrast with kaleidoscopic black and white tiles; exposed brick walls counter the glossy subway tiles; ornamental painted ceilings juxtapose the mirrored ceilings; and the plush, candy pink furniture is the antithesis of the strong, black leather pieces.
The result is an unusual and chic space, with the hotel describing it as offering “the warm hospitality of a friend”. Take a look…
Inside Bobbi Brown’s latest project: George Inn
Images from here, here and here by Lesley Unruh for One Kings Lane.
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The best eateries to indulge at this Easter
Easter has become synonymous with indulging. Whether it’s a chocolate egg hunt, a pavlova shared among family or seeking out the most extravagant desserts around the world, we all have our favourite way to celebrate. To inspire you this Easter, we have explored three of the most memorable dessert destinations from around the world. Take a look…
An Instagrammer’s heaven, Elan Cafe is chic and contemporary. Across the two London locations, pastel tones and plush velvet make up the basis of the interiors, with brass accents and white wash floors. When it comes to the menu, take your pick from options including ‘Chocolate Tonka Tartlet’ and ‘Millionaire Shortbread’.
Images above from here.
LA-based chocolatier Jonathan Graham worked with architects AAmp Studio to create this little slice of heaven. Taking inspiration from the brand’s packaging and the chocolate bars themselves, the team created an interiors concept that focusses on the use of triangles.
The triangular marble counter is decorated in black and white triangular tiles. The interiors are kept black and white in colour, which allows the colourful packaging to do all the talking. The shelves display the colourful edges and fronts of the chocolate bars, which look more like graphical artworks.
Images above from here.
Lucky Malaysians have the Tiny Temptress to fix their sweet cravings this Easter. With two locations, this artisan patisserie serves up macarons, cakes and sweet treats full of novelty and playfulness. The interiors are equally sweet: lots of blush pink and marble that looks like it could almost be swirls of icing.
Images above from here.
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What’s new in the world of design: February 2018
This month, there are lots of new experiences to be had in the space where fashion and interiors meet. Join us as we take a global tour: from Paris, to Miami, Soho and back to Italy. Some of fashion’s biggest names have created new spaces for us to explore, while a late fashion icon has a new tribute, which we can all enjoy – if we’re brave.
Louis Vuitton’s new Paris home
There is a new ‘must-see’ if you are travelling to Paris: after four years of renovations, Louis Vuitton’s Place Vendôme store is now open. It holds huge sentimental and historical value, being the place where the brand’s founder first opened the doors to his business 160 years ago. Now, the two-storey boutique is light-filled, and designed to feel more like a home than a retail store. Inside are more than 30 arts pieces and sculptures, and a staircase that connects the two levels made from 18th century stone.
Images above from here.
The Villa Casa Casuarina
Once home to famous fashion designer Gianni Versace, The Villa Casa Casuarina in Miami Beach is now a luxury hotel.
The 1930 building was purchased by Versace in 1992, and become the place where he was dramatically assassinated.
Providing that dark history doesn’t put you off, you can now stay at the boutique hotel, restaurant and event space.
Opulent, erring on over the top, features include 24-karat gold tiles lining the pool, one room covered entirely in seashells and animal print (almost) everywhere.
Images above from here.
Gucci’s interactive ‘Gucci Garden’, Florence
Florence, Italy, is now home to ‘Gucci Garden’ – a unique museum that tells the story of the legendary brand.
Featuring six rooms across two floors, visitors can explore historic collections, a retail store offering exclusive products, and a restaurant by three-Michelin-star chef Massimo Bottura.
Images above from here.
Chanel’s women’s only The Coco Club
In celebration of its BOY∙FRIEND watch collection, Chanel created a private women’s club at Soho’s The Wing. ‘The Coco Club’ was a place to unwind, recharge, and entertain – in style of course. With black, white, cream and gold the central colours of the space, members could take their pick from the games room (complete with ping-pong table, pool table, and shuffleboard), library, Coco Café and beauty room.
Images above from here.
Five of the world’s most romantic hotels for Valentine’s Day
Likuliku Lagoon Resort, Fiji
Featuring Fiji’s only over-water cabins (or ‘bures’), complete with glass floor-panels, Likuliku Lagoon Resort is perfect for those seeking a romantic getaway. Soak in the ocean views from either your bed, the freestanding bath or your lounger out on the deck and make the most of the private plunge pools and private, candlelit dining under the stars.
The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Singapore
Perched on Singapore’s Marina Bay, The Fullerton Bay Hotel is the epitome of classic and international luxury. A stand-out feature of this hotel is ‘La Brasserie’ with its 10-metre ceilings, wall-to-wall bayside windows, polished floors, and chandeliers. Each of the 100 guest rooms have a private sundeck or balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline. The rooms feature a traditional design, with polished rosewood, latticed screens, leather and chrome, paired with high-tech touches like interactive LCD televisions, iPod docks, and individual temperature controls.
Como Point Yamu, Thailand
Thai luxury with an Italian spin: Como Point Yamu features Mediterranean-inspired interiors, Italian food and tropical views of Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman Sea. Spend a day on the nearby private island, where you’ll have attendants ready to wine and dine you, or sit back at the 100 metre infinity pool on site. The interiors are very much ‘modern resort style’.
All images via the accommodations’ websites.
Inside “The Wing”: a female-only New York co-working space
Co-working spaces are popping up the world over, with WeWork recently expanding to Australia, opening three locations in Sydney and one in Melbourne with another on the way. Over in America, the second edition of a popular female-only co-working space has opened, after an 8,000-strong waitlist response to the first.
‘The Wing‘ describes itself as a ‘home base and social club for women’. Brooklyn’s outpost is due to open soon, with Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco believed to be next, adding to the original Flatiron location and the new SoHo base.
The loft-style SoHo space was put together by a female team of designers, makers and artists. Decorator Chiara de Rege and architect Alda Ly directed the interiors, choosing a colour palette of rich hues paired with fresh, whitewashed walls and textured fabrics, including lots of velvet and plush layered rugs, while a female team at Pentagon were in charge of the branding, drawing on the history of suffrage graphics and vernacular design. They created a series of 30 different ‘W’s, which they say is “a nod to the eclectic makeup of the membership and its diversity of perspectives and different voices”.
Meanwhile, the “busy women of New York” wallpaper was hand-drawn by Joana Avillez, with artwork by Leanne Shapton, Laurie Simmons, and Gia Coppola adding character and colour to the walls. Even the bookcase is filled with female authors’ works.
Members can make the most of the in-house cafe, ‘The Perch’, the fully equipped beauty room, a pump room for new mothers, bookable conference rooms, private phone booths and a calendar full of events. Plus, The Wing has now added a print edition to their line up: ‘No Man’s Land’, “for women with something to say and nothing to prove.”
Take a look at The Wing, SoHo, below and let’s stay tuned for a possible expansion into Australia!
Images from here.
What’s new in the world of design: January 2018
It’s our first global design wrap of 2018, and we have brought you three progressive, commercial interior concepts, from Toronto to Beijing.
We know that art can serve as an emotionally-charged movement – and this month we’ve found an installation in France that certainly makes a statement
Read on and explore the latest and best in design in our ‘What’s new in the world of design’ January 2018 edition…
1. Campari’s new Canadian office
Campari Canada has a new Toronto office – and it’s inspired by the drink brand’s ingredients and iconic advertising posters – both past and present. The 150-year-old Italian drink brand – with spirits, wines and soft drink labels – wanted a space that captured the essence of their company.
Design studio I-V took on the challenge, and the result is a pastel space, with pale green flooring, blush pink terrazzo bar and light grey and blush furniture.
Images below from here.
2. Grand Central Terminal’s new restaurant: Agern
Agern, meaning “acorn” in Danish, is the newest restaurant in New York’s Grand Central Terminal.
Headed by chef Claus Meyer, the eatery takes inspiration from Claus’ Icelandic heritage. The menu and interiors are decidedly Nordic, with a calming and warm atmosphere, giving stark contrast to the frantic pace outside of its walls.
Images below from here.
3. Public installation: ‘The plastic we live with’
Spanish artist collective Luzinterruptus took a stance at the 2017 Festival International des Arts
de Bordeaux Métropole
The group say that their idea was to “graphically visualise, in a way that could be understood by all, the plastic excess that is around us”. The installation filled the windows of the old Virgin Megastore building with 6,000 bags, to make it look as though it was ‘exploding’ with and from plastic.
Images below from here.
4. Beijing’s spectacular Tianjin Binhai Library
China’s Tianjin Binhai Library in Beijing is a memorising, one of a kind design. The 33,700 sqm centre features an undulating bookshelf that wraps the walls from floor to ceiling, has stairs and room to sit, and holds 1.2 million books.
In the middle sits a spherical auditorium. The library took three years to create, from initial sketch to opening the doors, and was built according to China’s ‘Green Star Energy Efficiency’ label.
Images below from here.
What’s new in the world of design: December 2017
Continuing our travel theme this month – as it is the holiday season after all – we have pulled together the latest and most stylish in design for the jet setters among us. From high end airport lounges to luxurious camper vans, we’ll have you travelling in style. Take a look…
1.Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Business Lounge in Hong Kong
Newly opened in Hong Kong is ‘The Pier’ by Cathay Pacific. Modelled after iconic Hong Kong experiences, you can enjoy a teahouse, noodle bar, market-like Food Hall, and – a must for long haul travellers – a relaxation zone complete with low upholstered loungers and footstools and the ‘Bureau’, where workaholics can access iMacs, printers and other business tools. The design is based on warm natural materials and subtle touches of oriental detail.
New from travel trailer company Airstream is their luxe ‘Globetrotter’ edition. Sophisticated, clean and modern – this isn’t your normal camper. Stretching 27-foot long and featuring a shower, and double bed, and a choice of natural elm or dark walnut interiors, this van will have you hitting the open roads in class.
Images below from here.
3. Qantas’ London Lounge at Heathrow Airport
Early next year, Qantas will be launching its much anticipated direct 787 Dreamliner flights between Australia and London. So, it’s only fitting that they open a stylish new lounge to match!
The multimillion dollar lounge was designed by global design firm, Woods Bagot and took more than a year to build.
But the result is beautiful: a combination of stone, marble, timber, leather and brass finishes with forest green fabrics. That’s what we call first class travel!
